Holding could make Arsenal return

The defender has not played since December after a knee injury.

Arsenal defender Rob Holding is in contention for his first appearance since December when the Gunners face Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old has been missing since suffering a severe knee injury against Manchester United last December but is back in the fold and could start the game.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is suspended after his sending-off in Sunday’s win over Aston Villa, with head coach Unai Emery likely to rotate his side.

Alexandre Lacazette remains out with an ankle problem but Hector Bellerin (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos and Kieran Tierney (both groin) could all play some part after returning to training.

Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi is also expected to make wholesale changes for the Reds’ first ever visit to the Emirates Stadium.

The Frenchman swapped nine players against Derby in the previous round and it is likely to be a similar story, especially with Forest having a league game at Stoke on Friday night.

Aro Muric could return in goal while the likes of Tobias Figueiredo, Alfa Semedo, John Bostock, Brennan Johnson, Albert Adomah and Sammy Ameobi are in line for recalls.

Lamouchi hopes to have on-loan Wolves striker Rafa Mir back from a leg injury this week but he is more likely to be involved at Stoke – while former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson, who moved to the City Ground in the summer, will not make a swift return to north London due to an ankle injury.